Vaporizer.



I Pater lied Mar. I2, 1901. 1'. A. MACK.

VA P 0 R I Z E (Application filed Mar. 3, 1899.)

4 Sheats-Shaet l.

(-0 Model.)

WITNESSES i )v m INVENTOR KW \L/ V I ATTOR EYS n4: uonms PEIERS co, moToumou WASMINGTDNv a. c.

No. 669,757. Patented Man. |2 I90l.

T. A. MACK.

VAPORIZER.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1899.; (No Model.) 4, Sheets sheet 2.

I 1? 1 6 j as WITNESSES: INVENTOR I I) BY W HQ M w,

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. I2, I91. T. A. MACK.

YAPORIZER. (Application Qiad Mar. 3, 1899.!

4 Sheets8heet 3.

Np Model.)

INVENTOR 4 mp, Ct

\L K A ORNEY'S Tu: NORRIS PEYERS no. pndy'uunm. wumuumu n c No. 669,757. Patentedlar. l2; 190L- T. A. MACK. VAPORIZER.

(Applicatiqn filed Mar. 3, 1899) (Np Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoot 4.

: v m i as INVENTOR M BY ATTORNEYS m: Nonms PETERS co, moron-mo Mliu'l'wvon. n. cy

Nirni) STATES ATENT Fries.

THOMAS A. MACK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y;

VAPORIZER.

EiPIECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,757, dated March 12, 190i.

Application filed March 3, 1899. Serial No. 707,580. the model-1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MACK, of New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vaporizers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Vaporizers.

It has for its objects to improve the construction of Vaporizers, to provide means for preventing the choking of the vaporizing tubes or chambers by carbonization, to make the flame steadier, and to prevent fracture or breakage of the parts in the retort.

It consists of the devices herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters in the diiferent figures represent corresponding parts, I have shown and will now proceed to describe the preferred form or embodiment of my improvement.

Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line A A of Fig. I viewed as shown by the arrow, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same on the line B B of Fig. l viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a plan of the heating-chamber with some of its connections shown and the parts of thestove omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the vaporizing-tubes, showing a portion of the casing. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section through the casing of the heatingchamber with supports 27 and vaporizingtubes removed and through chamber 8 with their various parts detached from one an-f other to enable the construction and connection of said parts to be more readily understood. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the end of the vaporizing-tube shown in Fig. 5 and its connections, and Fig. 8 is an end view of needle-bar 14 of Fig. 7.

In the drawings my invention is shown as embodied in a stove adapted for heating purposes, although my invention is not limited to stoves or to Vaporizers for heating purposes, but is also applicable to other Vaporizerssuch, for example, as those used for illuminating purposes.

I-leretot'ore in Vaporizers great difficulty has been encountered in preventing the choking of the carbonizing tubes or chambers through deposits within such tubes or chambers due to carbonization, as it is called. Where great heat is employed in Vaporizers, it seems to be impossible to prevent such carbonization, and unless means are provided for re moving the deposits the vaporizer will soon become choked up and useless. Heretofore it has been found practically impossible, especially in Vaporizers of the kind shown herein, to provide adequate means for removing such deposits or means which are compatible with the strength and durability needed in the retort parts of such structures or means for removing such deposits as they are made. By my improved devices effective and adequate means are provided for preventing such clogging and for the prompt removal of any deposits that may be made without impairing the strength or durability of the parts of the retort.

Referring now to the stove shown in the drawings herein, 1 constitutes the framework, and 2 a part of the top of the same, a part only of the stove being shown in the drawings, the part not shown containing an ordinary burn er and not containing any part of my present invention.

3 is the upper part of the casing, forming part of the surrounding. wall inclosing the heating-chamber, the lower part of the casing, forming the rest of the surrounding wall of the heating-chamber, being formed by circularframe 9. Through the casing surrounding the heating-chamber passes one or more vaporizing-tubes. In the drawings two are shown-namely, vaporizing-tube 4 and vaporizing-tube 5. As many of these vaporizing-tubes may be used as is desired. In the stove shown there are twothe vaporizingtube 5 for supplying vapor to the generatingburner 30 (shown in Fig. 6) at the bottom of the heating-chamber and vaporizing-tube 4 for supplying vapor to a burner (not shown) of the stove. This latter burner may be made of any suitable construction, but as it forms no part of the present invention is not shown in the drawings. Vaporizingtube 5 discharges vapor through a valve (not shown) into gooseneck-tube 6, where it is mingled with air which passes into the gooseneck-tube 6 at point 7, from whence it passes into the semispherical chamber 8 beneath the burner 30 at the bottom of the heating-chamber. This burner at the bottom of the heatingchamber is carried in a cylindrical frame 9, as shown in Fig. 6. The heating-chamber is in closed by a surrounding wall composed of frame 9 and an upper part 3 and a connecting portion 34. These parts and semispherical chamber 8 are all shown separated from one another in Fig. 6 to enable their construction and connection to be more easily understood. Upper part 3 is provided with a central circular opening 33, out of which the products of combustion are permitted to pass. Connecting part 34 is a ring adapted to be seated upon frame 9 and to be detachably connected with it by means of pins 10, secured to frame 9, and lugs 12, secured to ring 34.

, Ring 34 acts as a support for upper part 3.

In putting the parts together ring 34 is placed upon frame 9 so that lugs 12 are at one side of pins 10, and the ring is then moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, until the lugs and pins interlock. Upper part 3 is then placed around the interior of ring 34, as shown in Fig. 6. For this purpose upperpart 3 is made of a diameter so as to fit within ring 34. Frame 9 is provided with openings 36 for a purpose presently to be described. Semispherical chamber 8 is detachably connected with casing 9 by means of lugs 12 upon chamber 8 and projections 11, depending from frame 9. The lugs and projections form a bayonet-joint of the usual kind. By means of handle 13, secured to semispherical circle 8, the latter, together with pipe 6, can be revolved slightly in one direction or the other to cause lugs 12 to engage with and befreed from projections 11 to connect or disconnect chamber 8 with frame 9. Through each vaporizing-tube runs a needle-bar 14, provided with a cutting surface or surfaces snugly fitting the inside of the tube and provided with a valve 15, adapted to seat on a valve-seat 16 to close or open discharge-orifice 17 at the end of the vaporizing-tube. Each vaporizing-tube passes through the casing and has at its end and constituting the end of the vaporizing-tube in the form shown in the drawings a hollow detachable portion 31, which is screw-threaded interiorly and exteriorly, its exterior screw-threads being adapted to fit into interior screw-threads upon a tubular projection 18, extending from the casing. This detachable portion can be adjusted to any desired position in tube 18 to properly adjust pin 32 to orifice 17 and valve 15 to valve-seat 16. Valve-seat 16 forms part of detachable portion 31., and discharge-orifice 17 passes through the end of said portion. The needle-bar is provided at one end with a hand-wheel 19 and at its other end is screwthreaded at 20, the screw-threads meshing into the screw-threads on the interior of detachable portion 31, as shown in Figs. 5 and 3. Valve 15 is of slightly less diameter than the screw-threaded portion 20, leaving an annular space or chamber between valve 15 and the surrounding inner walls of detachable portion 31, and 21 is a groove cut through the screw-threads and slightly into the part forming valve 15 to permit the passage of vapor through the screw passage-ways of needle-bar 14 into the annular chamber surrounding valve 15 and when valve 15 is raised from seat 16 to permit of the discharge of the vapor therefrom through orifice 17. Needlebar 14 also carries at its end a pin 21, adapted to enter into discharge-orifice 17 when the needle-bar 14 is screwed into its innermost position, and thus to clean the said orifice and keep it open and unclogged at all times.

Needle-bar 14 is made with one or more cutting-surfaces adapted to form a snug fit for the interior of the vaporizing-tube. The cutting-surfaces of the needle-bar of tube 4 are shown as the edges of a spiral, and those of the needle-bar of tube 5 are shown as straight edges. In all cases these cuttingsurfaces form the periphery or a portion of the periphery of the needle-bar and are arranged to make contactwith the inner surface or walls of the vaporizing-tube and to act as a cutting-surface to scrape away any carbon that may be there deposited. Passage-ways are made between the needle-bar and the inner walls of the vaporizing-tube for the passage of oil or vapor. The form of the needle-bar and the cutting edges can be varied greatly. Thus the needle-bar of vaporizing-tube 4 is made in the form of a spiral, While that of vaporizingtube 5 is shown as triangular in cross-section. (See Fig. 5,where 'the cutting-surfaces are the straight edges 28 and the passage-ways are shown at 29 29.) Other formsof needle-bars and their cutting edges may be employed, if desired. For some purposes, however, I prefer the spiral form,

like that of the needle-bar of vaporizing-tube 4. As each needle-bar is turned by its handle 19 its cutting surface or surfaces will make contact with and scrape the inner walls of the vaporizing-tube, thus effectually dislodging any deposits upon those inner walls and completely preventing the clogging of the vaporizing-tube through carbonization. The needle-bar itself can be readily cleaned, if it. should need it at any time, by withdrawing it from the vaporizingtube. Oil is supplied to vaporizing-tube 4 in any suitable way. As shown, it proceeds from a storagereservoir (not shown) through pipe 22, where it is controlled by a valve opened or closed through stem 23 and hand-wheel 24. Thence it proceeds through pipe 25 into reservoir 26. I prefer to use reservoir 26 and to use it in the place shown in Fig. 5. As here illustrated, this reservoir is in line with the vaporizing-tube, and the needle-bar 14 runs through it, as well as through the vaporizingtube, and the passage-ways formed by the spirals of the needle-bar open into the reservoir and lead from it through the vaporizingtube.

My improved form of needle-bareffectually prevents all clogging of the vaporizing-tubes which form the retort itself where the carbonizing is most apt to occur and where it occurs most plentifully and is most difficult to get rid of. When made in the spiral form, (shown in Fig. 5,) it serves to retard the flow of oil and vapor, and thus aids in steadying the flame. In this it is assisted by the reservoir 26, the two cooperating to make a flame that is steady while burning and free from Spurting or jumping. By means of the support which is given to the needle-bar at its inner end by the meshing of the screw-threads 20 on the needle-bar with the interior screwthreads on tubular detachable portion 31 the needle-bar is always kept true and free from warping and the valve and valve-seat are always keptin line and pin 21 and orifice 17 are also kept in true alineinent with each other.

In retorts of the kind shown and described herein, in which vaporizing tubes pass through a casing forming the walls of the heating-chamber, it has been found very difficnlt to keep the parts properly secured together. It is usual to braze the tubes to the casing or otherwise securely and immovably fasten them together. With such a construction the parts are apt to break apart from one another where brazed together, owing to the great and sudden variations in the temperature to which the parts are subjected. I have devised means for overcoming'this trouble. For this purpose I mount each vaporizingtube in supports 27. The supports in the form shown in the drawings are plates curved so as to form a part of the cylindrical wall of the casing proper. The wall of the casing is cut away at each side at 35, as shown in Fig. 6, sufficiently to receive and hold the supports 27. The supports 27 are fitted into the said openings in the wall of the casing, so as to remain therein and to support the vaporizing-tubes; but they are not brazed or otherwise secured to the wall of the casing. They are therefore free to yield one way or the other in answer to strains put upon them and upon the wall of the casing through expansion or contraction due to differences in temperature. The tubes are thus yieldingly fitted into the wall of the casing and are not integral with it, and this construction efiectually prevents fracture of the parts or the parts breaking away from each other where brazed.

In operation hand-wheel 24 is turned so as to permit oil to fiow from the storage-reservoir through pipes 22 and 25 into reservoir 26, and thence into vaporizing-tube 4. Meanwhile a small amount of alcohol or oil in any suitable vessel (not shown) is lighted in the lower part of the heating-chamber in order to sufficiently heat the oil in vaporizing-tube 4: to cause the generation of vaporor gas. Handwheel 19 of vaporizing-tube 5 is then turned, permitting vapor topass out into tube 6 and chamber 8, where it is ignited in the bottom of the heating-chamber. The burner 30 at the bottom of the heating-chamber provides sufficient heat to keep up the generation of vapor in the vaporizing-tubes, and aconstantsupply of vapor is furnished to this burner through vaporizing-tube 5, as above described, for this purpose tubes 4 and 5 being connected together in the interior of the casing, as shown in Fig. 5. When it is desired to light the burner (not shown) of the stove, hand-wheel 19 of vaporizing-tube 4 is turned to unseat valve 15 from valve-seat l6, permitting the vapor to pass from the orifice 17 through pipe 28 to the burner of the stove.

If it is desired for any purposeto remove the vaporizing-tubes, they can be removed by first removing part 3 and ring 34. The vaporizing-tubes, with theirsupports and the reservoir, can then be lifted out of the openings 36 in frame 9. Whenever desired, pipe 6 and semispherical chamber 8 can be removed from the frame in the manner previously described.-

Many modifications can be made in the form of my improved device shown in the drawings without departing from my invention. My invention may be employed for other purposes than heatingas, for example, for illuminating purposes-or where employed in a stove any number of vaporizingtnbes desired may be used. The form of the needlebar can be widely varied so long as a part or parts of the periphery of the needlebar form a cutting surface or surfaces and make contact with the inner wall of the vaporizing-tube and as long as a passage-way exists between the needle-bar and the inner wall of the tube for the passage of oiland gas.

In my improved vaporizer in its preferred form oil is supplied from a supply-pipe directly to one of the vaporizing-tubes preferably through the medium of a reservoir in line with the vaporizing-tube and not, as heretofore, through a pipe which enters the casing. This arrangement enables the parts of the vaporizer to be much simplified in con struotion. In the preferred form of my improved device this oil passes from the supplypipe first into a reservoir and then into the vaporizing-tube; but, if desired, the reservoir may be dispensed with.

When deposits of carbon are made in a vaporizing tube, they are comparatively soft when first made; but the carbon thus deposited, if not promptly removed, soon becomes so hard that it is practically non-removable by any ordinary means. By means of my improved needle-barany deposits of carbon that may have been made are promptly and easily cut away from the interior walls of the vaporizing-tnbe and are easily removed therefrom in a powdery form. Deposits of carbon upon the inner walls of a vaporizing-tube are objectionable not only because they tend to LOO IIO

. are poor conductors of heat, and thus interfere with the vaporization of the oil. All of these defects are overcome by my improved devices.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a needle-bar running through the vaporizing tube and having a cutting surface or surfaces snugly fitting the same and provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a valve-seat to close the said discharge-orifice, passage-ways between the needle-bar and the inner walls of the vaporizing-tube for the passage of oil or vapor, and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tube and carbonizing in the tube may be prevented.

2. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a spiral needle-bar running through the vaporizing-tube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the same, provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a Valve-seat to close the said discharge-orifice, means for supplying oil to the vaporizing-tube and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby the oil will be vaporized in the spirals of the needle-bar, the oil and vapor will be retarded in their flow through the vaporizing-tube, and carbonizingin the vaporizing-tube Will be prevented.

3. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a spiral needle-bar running through the vaporizing-tube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the same, a pin at the end of the needle-bar adapted to enter into said discharge-orifice to clean the same, means for supplying oil to the vaporizing-tube and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby the oil will be vaporized in the spirals of the needle-bar, the oil and vapor will be retarded in their flow through the vaporizingiube, and carbonizing in the vaporizing-tube will be prevented. a

4. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a spiral needle-bar running through the vaporizingtube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the same and provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a valveseat to close the said discharge-orifice, a pin at the end of the needle-bar adapted to enter into said discharge-orifice to clean the same, means for supplying oil to the vaporizingtube and means for heating the vaporizingtube, whereby the oil will be vaporized in the spirals of the needle-bar, the oil and vapor will be retarded in their flow through the vaporizing-tube, and carbonizing in the vaporizing-tube Will be prevented.

5. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a reservoir for oil in line with the vaporizing-tube, a spiral needle-bar running through the reservoir and the vaporizing-tubeand having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the latter, means for supplying oil to the reservoir and means for heating the vaporizingtube, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tube, carbonizing in said tube will be prevented, and the flow of oil and vapor through the tube will be retarded.

6. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a reservoir for oil in line with the vaporizing-tube, a spiral needle-bar running through the reservoir and the vaporizing-tube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the latter, and provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a valve-seat to close the said discharge-orifice, means forsupplying oil to the reservoir and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tn be, carbonizingin said tube will be prevented, and the flow of oil and vapor through the tube will be retarded.

7. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a reservoir for oil in line with the vaporizing-tube, a spiral needle-bar running through the reservoir and the vaporizingtube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the latter, a pin at the end of the needlebar adapted to enter into said discharge-orifice to clean the same, means for supplying oil to the reservoir and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tube, carbonizing in said tube will be prevented, and the flow of oil and vapor through the tube will be retarded.

8. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a reservoir for oil in line with the vaporizing-tube, a spiral needle-bar running through the reservoir and the vaporizing-tube and having the cutting edges of the spiral snugly fitting the latter, and provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a valve-seat to close the said discharge-orifice, a pin at the end of the needlebar adapted to enter into said discharge-orifice to clean the same, means for supplying oil to the reservoir and means for heating the vaporizing-tube, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tube, carbonizing in said tube will be prevented and the flow of oil and vapor through the tube will be retarded.

9. In a vaporizer, the combination of aheating-chamber having an outer wall or casing, means for heating the chamber, a vaporizingtube passing through the chamber, means for supplying oil to said tube, a support for said tube secured thereto and fitting yieldingly into the casing of the heating-chamber, whereby fracture of the parts due to expansion or contraction thereof will be avoided.

10. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heating-chamber having an outer wall or casing, means for heating the chamber, two or more vaporizing-tubes secured together and passing through the heating-chamber, means for supplying oil to said tubes, supports for said tubes secured thereto and fitting yieldingly into the casing of the heating-chamber,

whereby fracture of the parts due to expansion or contraction thereof will be avoided.

11. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a

burner for heating the vaporizing-tube, a bar in the vaporizing-tubehaving a cutting surface or surfaces snugly fitting the tube, and provided with a valve adapted to seat upon a valve-seat to close the said discharge-orifice, passage-ways between the bar and the inner 1 walls of the vaporizing-tube for the passage of oil or vapor, means for supplying oil to the vaporizing-tube, and a tube opposite the discharge-orifice of the vaporizing-tube to receive a discharge of vapor therefrom, and

having an opening to the atmosphere and 2 5 the vaporizing-tube may be prevented.

12. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a needle bar running through the vaporizing-tube and having a valve to close the discharge- 0 orifice and having a cutting surface or surfaces snugly fitting the vaporizing tube, means for supplying oil to the vaporizingtube, and means for heating it, whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizing-tube, and carbonizing in the tube may be prevented.

13. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing-tube having a discharge-orifice, a burner for heating the vaporizing-tube, a needle-bar running through the vaporizing-tube and having a valve to close the dischargeorifice and having a cutting surface or surfaces snugly fitting the tube, means for supplying oil to the vaporizing-tube, and a tube opposite the discharge-orifice of the vaporizing-tube to receive a discharge of vapor therefrom, and having an opening to the atmosphere and connected with the burner, Whereby oil will be vaporized in the vaporizingtube, the vapor discharged therefrom will be mingled with air and be carried to the burner,

and carbonizing in the vaporizing-tube may be prevented.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. MAGIC Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, GEO. W. MILLS, Jr. 

